How to create and Install Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to Blogger Website

Have you heard the news? There is a new version of Google Analytics that is already available and ready to be utilized! Starting in 2023, Google will begin to dial back Universal Analytics in favor of their most recent iteration, Google Analytics 4. But wait! You probably have some questions like how do I upgrade, how long do I have to make the switch, what are the benefits, etc.? Don’t worry, this article will walk through the benefits, upgrade process and hidden tricks.

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Google Analytics has gone through many upgrades and iterations over the years. In 2005, GA1 Urchin was first released. Then GA2 Classic in 2008 and in 2013, GA3 Universal. After providing Universal Analytics for nearly a decade, we are on to the most recent iteration, Google Analytics 4 Property (GA4). Each new variation has brought a game changing user interface and unparalleled online tracking and GA4 is no different. This most recent iteration of Google Analytics builds on previous builds while also offering some new and very exciting features.

Why Upgrade?

The online landscape is constantly changing and so are the rules and regulations that guide data collection and use. Regulation updates like GDPR and CCPA are affecting how data is collected and utilized while updates to browsers are making traditional data collection more difficult. In addition, users have more control and transparency when it comes to how their data is collected. On top of all that, there is more data being collected than ever before, from countless sites and individuals and this amount will only increase. This is where Analytics comes into play, to help navigate all of this data.

Google recognizes that they need to evolve with the curve which leads us to Google Analytics 4 Property. To adapt with and overcome the widespread industry changes mentioned above, GA4 is built with some amazing features.

    At its core, GA4 is constructed with Google’s robust machine learning to automatically unearth trends from data that can be used to boost overall marketing performance.
    GA4 also presents a more accurate and consistent perspective of the customer’s journey, from acquisition to retention, spanning multiple devices, platforms and applications.
    GA4 is built to be scalable and stand the test of time. This most recent iteration works without cookies, allowing users to gain more knowledge of their customer base even with some voids in the data.

Benefits

Google Analytics 4 has a lot of the same features as previous builds like being able to track page views, interactions and users. Some new key features include:
Tracking across the web and applications. Before GA4, users would have to use Universal Analytics to track web interactions and platforms like Firebase to track app interactions. Now, the best of both is available on the same interface.

1. Improved event measurement tracking. In Universal analytics, basic events would be generated automatically and anything more specific needed to be created in Analytics. Now, there are more features available right out the gate. These include the ability to track scrolling, clicks on documents, outbound clicks and searches on the site. Plus, now, marketers do not need developers to set up custom events.

2. A new view called pathways. Essentially, this view provides a more in-depth understanding of the customer journey and a deeper understanding of the flow a visitor takes on your website. This allows marketers to see each step leading up to a conversion and provides opportunity to optimize the steps leading up to a conversion.

3. Ease of use on custom reports. In GA4, users can now choose starting segments to work with and then add dimensions and metrics. This provides a more concise and flexible data analysis. This feature is not a big change from what is currently available in Universal Analytics but it is more user friendly.

4.Free BigQuery export is now available. In the current Universal Analytics, this feature was only available if you upgraded to GA 360 and was a bit expensive. This new feature is particularly exciting for marketers that utilize a data warehouse.

Google’s most recent Analytics platform showcases a lot of new and exciting features that improve the user experience and overall data collection. Upgrading to GA4 also provides an opportunity for users to review their current conversion tracking and further optimize the process to better align with company KPI’s. Overall, GA4 is a more user friendly and powerful version of the current Universal Analytics and presents more convenience for marketers to collect and understand their data.

Advantage of Google Analytics 4.

You can follow people across platforms and devices thanks to its ability to combine web and app tracking** into a single property.

It offers an improved picture of site engagement that is more human, with metrics like engagement rate, engaged sessions, and engaged session duration.
It makes use of strong AI-driven predictive analytics to help you foresee upcoming behaviors and outcomes, such as churn likelihood and buy probability.
It gives you greater freedom and control over how you measure user interactions by improving journey tracking by using event-based data rather than session-based data.
It offers more choices for creating and exporting audiences for your ad campaigns based on behavior, demographics, and interests. It also supports robust audience segmentation.

Limitations of Google Analytics 4

When switching to GA4, you will lose historical data because it is not possible to migrate existing data from Universal Analytics.

Compared to Universal Analytics, it has fewer reports, and some of the more well-known reports, such the acquisition, behavior, and conversion reports, are either missing or have different names.
In comparison to Universal Analytics, it has various metrics and dimensions, and some of the more popular ones, such sessions, pageviews, bounce rate, and custom dimensions, are not available or compatible.
It has less control over data collection and processing because some of the settings, including as data retention, sampling, filters, and goals, are automated or preconfigured.
It has limited integrations with other Google products, such as Google Ads, Google Optimize, and Google Data Studio, and some of the features are not fully functional yet.

How to create Google Analytics 4 account?

To create a Google Analytics 4 account, you need to follow these steps:

Go to https://analytics.google.com/analytics and sign in with your Google account.

If you already have an Analytics account, click Admin and then click Create Property in the Property column.

If you don't have an Analytics account yet, click Create account and provide an Account name and data-sharing settings.

Enter a name for your property name select the reporting time zone and currency, and click Next.

Select your business category, business size, and click Next button.

Choose Business objective, how you intend to use Google Analytics, and Click on Create to create your Google Analytics 4 property.

To use google analytics first you must accept the terms of service agreement of your country / region, select your country, check on dilogbox then, click on Accept button.

Add a data stream for your website or app to start collecting data.

To add a data stream for your website, you need to follow these steps:

Select web.

If you have already created Google Analytics 4 and want to add Data Streams, Go to your Google Analytics account and click Admin in the bottom left corner.

In the Property column, click Data Streams.

Click Add Stream and click on web.

Setup your Data Stream, Enter your website URL and website name, and click Create Stream.

Copy the tracking code that starts with "G-" and paste it into your blogger website

How to add Measurement ID on Blogger Website

Sign in to Blogger and select the blog you want to analyze.
From the menu, » click Settings, » then click Google Analytics Measurement ID under Basic.

Enter your tracking code and click Save

Install Google Tag Manually

If you want to install google tag manually click on Vew tag instruction button.

Click on Install manually to get google tag javascript code for your blogger website. If you want to Install with a website builder or CMS type your website url then scan.

Copy the tracking code and paste it into your website's HTML code.

Install Google tracking code on blogger template

From the menu, » click Theme, » then click edit HTML.

Paste your Google tag tracking code in the header section (just below the <head> or just before </head> and click Save button to save blogger template.

Your GA4 is connected to your site but Collection website and app data is Not started. Now go to google analytics account » Admin » Account setting » Property » Setup assistant » collect website and app data and Click on the Greater then arrow (>) behind of the Not started then, click on Mark as Complate.

You can then start collecting data from your website using GA4.

It may take up to 24 hours for your data to show up in Analytics.

How can I view my website data in GA4?

To view your website data in GA4, you can use the Reports section in your Analytics account. There are different types of reports that show you different aspects of your website performance, such as:

Realtime report: This report shows you the activity on your website as it happens, such as the number of users, their sources, their pages, and their events.
Acquisition report: This report shows you where your users are coming from, such as their sources, mediums, campaigns, and audiences.
Engagement report: This report shows you how your users are interacting with your website content, such as their pages, events, sessions, and retention.
Monetization report: This report shows you how your users are generating revenue for your website, such as their purchases, transactions, and revenue.
Retention report: This report shows you how your users are returning to your website over time, such as their cohorts, churn rate, and engagement rate

You can also create custom reports using the Analysis section in your Analytics account. There you can use different analysis techniques and templates to explore your data in more depth.

Conclusion:

Google Analytics 4 is the next generation of Analytics that will replace Universal Analytics in July 2023. It offers a new way of collecting and analyzing data from both websites and apps, using an event-based model instead of a session-based one. It also provides more insights and predictions using AI and machine learning, as well as more control over user data and privacy. Google Analytics 4 is designed to help marketers and business owners measure and optimize their online performance across the entire customer journey